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As much as I hate to admit this, I don't think she, nor Shelia Franks are with us any longer. No updates, seemingly no leads coupled with the apparent company that they kept... such a sad set of circumstances. But I'll do my best to be negative by saying...I hope that I'm wrong about my thoughts in regards to whether they are alive.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

"When from a long distant past nothing persists, after the people are dead, after things are broken and scattered, still alone, more persistent, more faithful, the smell and taste of things remain poised a long, long time like souls, ready to remind us, waiting, hoping for their moment amid the ruins of all the rest, and bear unfaltering in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence the vast structure of recollection."

not likely coincidence

One missing woman that was with the man in question and I might be willing to consider the possibility of coincidence but when two missing young women were each last known to be with the same man . . . then I stop thinking coincidence and start thinking foul play.

Im amazed they have not gone after this man that was last seen with 2 missing women.
This is not a coincidence if you ask me.
Sorry he should have been in the scope of LE after the first one went missing

I think he has been in their scope, but there may not be quite enough evidence to make a strong enough case when there have been no bodies found. This is the problem LE has had with my signature case, Stephanie Warner. It's very frustrating to know that the likely murderer is free.

I believe Danielle and Sheila had friends in common, but it's not clear if they knew each other. Their families have worked hard together to find both women. I applaud them. They are up against a wall of silence in the community.

Originally Posted by Eileen730

Im amazed they have not gone after this man that was last seen with 2 missing women.
This is not a coincidence if you ask me.
Sorry he should have been in the scope of LE after the first one went missing

Law enforcement officials in California are now calling the February disappearance of a former Maine woman a “suspicious missing person case,” officials from two agencies confirmed this week. Danielle Bertolini, 23, was reported missing to Fortuna, California, police on Feb. 19. Her family last had contact with her on Jan. 29, according to her mother, Billie-Jo Dick of Plymouth.

Police initially told Dick they considered her daughter a “voluntary” missing person because of her age, and as such, their ability to assist was limited. Police now believe her daughter’s disappearance is suspicious.

That’s because Danielle went missing at roughly the same time as another area woman, 37-year-old Sheila Franks of Rio Dell and Loleta, California, who last was seen on Jan. 11, according to a missing person flier posted on the Internet by her sister, Melisa Walstrom of Alaska. Both women have blond hair and blue eyes, are similar in appearance and build, and travel in the same social circle. Family members of both women, who have joined forces in the search effort, say that police have told them that they believe the two missing persons cases are linked because Danielle Bertolini and Sheila Franks are believed to have last been seen with the same 43-year-old Fortuna man before they vanished.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

"When from a long distant past nothing persists, after the people are dead, after things are broken and scattered, still alone, more persistent, more faithful, the smell and taste of things remain poised a long, long time like souls, ready to remind us, waiting, hoping for their moment amid the ruins of all the rest, and bear unfaltering in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence the vast structure of recollection."

LoCO published an article about the coverage in Maine. The comments will probably be interesting as usual.

As the months grow longer since Danielle Bertolini went missing, the family of the 23-year-old woman last seen in the Fortuna area loses hope. Yesterday, a newspaper in Bangor, Maine—Bertolini went to school near there—headlined a story on the case with “Mother of former Maine woman missing in California fears she’s dead.” The reporter interviewed Lt. Wayne Hanson with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office as well as others.

The remains are likely from someone who died within the first few months of this year.

As of this point, even the sex of the skeleton has not yet been confirmed so attempts to identify the individual could take some time. Right now, Horton said, the Coroner’s Office is gathering descriptions of people missing who may have been in the area in order to be prepared, hopefully, to match the description with the information about the remains that the anthropologist is able to provide.

Horton said family members of several missing persons have already been in touch with his office.

Melisa Walstrom is asking people to take a few moments on Saturday to remember two missing women: her sister Sheila Franks and Fortuna resident Danielle Brooks-Bertolini.

"July 19 at 10:14 a.m. is when (Sheila) was born. I'm asking for people to release a balloon in honor of Sheila then, or anytime during that day," Walstrom said. "I ask that people don't use mylar balloons, which can be bad for the environment, and instead of using string, people can use raffia. Even if people don't want to release a balloon, I ask that they take a few moments to pray for Sheila, Danielle Brooks-Bertolini and their families, and that we're able to find them and have closure."

According to Danielle's mother, the missing girl never stayed in one place while in California, but she called to check in with her mother and younger sister almost every day. When neither of them heard from Danielle after January 29th and could not reach her, they reported her missing. That was on February 19th. After finding all of her belongings left abandoned, Danielle's mother believes her daughter is dead. Dick continues to search for her daughter's remains, but so far has not found any evidence of where Danielle might be.

"We've checked on every lead. We've went everywhere. I've looked in so many wells, so many abandoned houses, places that have burnt. And to have my daughter not be in any of them and not know where she is is killing me," said Billie-Joe Dick.

On Saturday, a vigil was held for Danielle Bertolini in Bangor's Cascade Park.

Billy-Jo Dick expressed gratitude during the vigil for the members of Down East Emergency Medical Institute who returned last week from California, where they, with help from a search dog, found evidence that police said contributed to the investigation.

The find occurred at a spot where Bertolini was last seen, said Richard Bowie, DEEMI’s director.